From Muhammad,
who is the servant of Allah and His Prophet to Heracles Caesar.

Peace be on
him, who follows the right path.

After this, I
invite you to the fold of Islam. Therefore, if you desire security, accept
Islam. If you accept Islam, Allah shall reward you doubly and if you refuse to
do so, the responsibility for the transgression of the entire nation, shall be
yours.

O people of
the Book! Leaving aside all matters of differences and disputes, agree on a
thing, which is equally incontrovertible both as you and we are concerned and it
is that we should not worship any one else with Him, nor regard any one else
except Allah as our Sustainer.

If you deny
this, you must know that we believe in Oneness of Allah, in all circumstances.

Seal: Allah's
Prophet Muhammad

Note: Just as
in our time, there are two most powerful States which call themselves 'Super'
powers; in the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) there were two most
powerful States: One was Iran and the other Rome or Byzantium or Constantinople.
The former was the biggest state of Asia and a cradle of a great civilization.
It was towards the east of Arabia. Towards the north west was the Roman Empire.
The two States were contiguous. Rome is at present the Capital of Italy. The
Arabs called Byzantium by the name of Rome.

Some years
back when this letter was sent, the Iranians attacked Syria and defeated the
Romans. There is a reference to it in the Qur'an. The Romans, in order to avenge
themselves, made big preparations and defeated the Iranians. Although the
Iranians were at that time very powerful and the Romans did seem to have a
chance of a victory against them, the Qur'an prophesied a clear triumph for the
Romans. Heracles came to Jerusalem in token of his gratefulness, It was here
that he received the letter of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him). He ordered
that somebody from Arabia, should be presented before him. Per chance Abu Sufyan
was staying at Gaza with his merchandise. The men of Caesar brought him from Gaza.

Caesar held a
grand court. He donned a Crown and sat on his throne. Then addressing the Arabs,
he enquired as to who was the relative of the person who claimed himself to be a
Prophet. Abu Sufyan said that he was related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
The following dialogue then took place:

Caesar: To
what sort of family does the Claimant to Prophethood belong?

Abu Sufyan: Is
noble.

Caesar: Did
some one else in the family claim Prophethood?

Abu Sufyan:
No.

Caesar: Did
someone from the family happen to be a King?

Abu Sufyan:
No.

Caesar: Are
the people who have accepted this religion, poor or influential?

Abu Sufyan:
They are poor people.

Caesar: Are
his followers growing in number or decreasing?

Abu Sufyan:
They are growing.

Caesar: Have
you ever experienced an untruthfulness from him?

Abu Sufyan:
No.

Caesar: Does
he ever break a promise or agreement?

Abu Sufyan:
Thus far he has never done it. But it is to be seen if he adheres to the new
peace pact which has been concluded.

Caesar: Have
you ever fought a battle against him?

Abu Sufyan:
Yes.

Caesar: What
was the result of the battle?

Abu Sufyan:
Sometime we were victorious and sometime he was successful.

After this
dialogue Caesar remarked that the Prophets always belonged to noble families.
Further he said that as nobody else from the family of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)
laid claim to Prophethood, it was, therefore, clear that there was no hereditary
influence involved in his claim to Prophethood. Similarly absence of any king in
the family, proved that the Holy Prophet was not prompted by a desire of
kingship. As He never spoke a lie, he could hardly be expected to lie about
Allah. Caesar further observed that the followers of the Prophets, in the
beginning, are poor and that a true religion goes on making progress. Also
Prophets never cheat anybody. As he preached piety, cleanliness and worship of
Allah alone, he should one day be a master of the place, he (Caesar) was
occupying. Thereafter Caesar ordered that the letter of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)
be read.

The dialogue
of Caesar, with Abu Sufyan, highly enraged the courtiers. The Caesar, therefore,
sent away the Arabs from the court. The love of crown and throne and the
opposition of the courtiers, however, did not allow Caesar to accept Islam. But
his searching questions and his talk clearly show that he was convinced of the
truthfulness of Islam, as he had correctly judged that a person who never in his
life, uttered even a trifling lie, could hardly say anything wrong about Allah.
He was also certain that worldly riches, splendor and ascendancy were not the
aims and objects of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), but the communication
of he message of Islam to the entire world, was his mission.

When Caesar
was about to return to Constantinople, he again advised his courtiers to follow
the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) as he was the one, they were awaiting. He
further mentioned that their books contained the description of the Holy
Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and these clearly and unequivocally
indicate that he was the true Prophet of Allah. It was, therefore, in their own
interest to follow the guidance given by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

The courtiers,
however, said that it would mean their acceptance of the over lordship of the
Arabs, although theirs was the biggest kingdom of the world and their nation the
greatest nation of the world. Caesar, thereon, said that although they were not
prepared to accept Islam then very shortly they would be overpowered by the
Arabs. He was much displeased by the arrogant attitude of the courtiers and
immediately left Syria. While departing he looked at the Syrian territory and
said that he was leaving Syria for ever. And it was true, he was never to return
to Syria.'